PBS Plans Deep Budget Cuts as Corporation for Public Broadcasting Faces Shutdown
PBS is preparing to make deep financial adjustments in the wake of a historic loss in federal funding for public media. The network’s president and CEO, Paula Kerger, informed station general managers this week that PBS will implement a 21% budget reduction, marking one of the most significant cutbacks in its history.
The announcement follows the decision by Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in previously allocated funds for public broadcasting over the next two fiscal years. The move will also lead to the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the organization created by Congress in the 1960s to distribute grants to public radio and television stations nationwide. The CPB is expected to shut down by the end of the year.
Although PBS receives only a modest portion of its budget directly from the CPB, local stations pay dues to PBS to access national programming such as PBS NewsHour and Masterpiece. With federal support disappearing, the pool of station dues will drop by $35 million. Many local outlets — especially those in rural areas — have long relied on CPB grants for a substantial share of their operating budgets. Larger stations, often supported by more robust private donor networks, may weather the storm more easily, but smaller operations face an uncertain future.
The ripple effects extend beyond television. Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR, said last month that the radio network would trim $8 million from its own budget to offer “fee relief” to its most vulnerable member stations. Maher described the measure as a temporary step while longer-term strategies are explored.
The current federal funding runs until September 30. President Donald Trump, a vocal supporter of the rollback, has reportedly pressured lawmakers to back the cuts, warning of political consequences for those who did not align with his position.
With the public media landscape poised for major change, the coming months will be critical for PBS, NPR, and the many community stations that depend on them. How these organizations adapt will determine the future of public broadcasting in an era without federal support.
